Dr. Kate BSN, RN

Over 30 years ago, I had a BA in biology, was in a MA program in History of Religion and needed a salable skill. A nursing program took a chance on me. And, I found that nursing suits me. Is nursing my passion? No, but I am passionate about nursing. ...

So you know, within the state of California the public junior colleges are mandated by law to use some form of lottery system. It sounds unfair now but was a response to the perceived unfairness of individual programs setting their own standards. Th...

I really wanted Kathy, but that was taken. The only other screen name I use is what I used to call my dog and I didn't want that for a nursing board. I lack creativity. Some of my relatives call me Kate. When I got my PhD a friend playing off Dr. Qui...

It strikes me that perhaps you could do with some time taking care of people in a setting where you have a bit longer contact with them than you do in the ER. I become concerned when I hear relatively new nurses sound like old veterans. Truth is you ...

Laura, I've been doing this for 30 (gasp) years and I'm still not sure it's what I want to be doing. Okay? Stop looking for absolute assurance there is none. What there is, for me at least, is the assurance that I am doing something important, that i...

You might want to check your state's nurse practice act for the details of what constitutes RN practice. There should also be a board for the LVN/LPN group. There's a lot of hearsay that goes on among nurses regarding what they are and are not respon...

Logic, not symbolic that's math, but from the Philosophy dept. can be fun and it really does teach you how to think. History of Religions can also be fun and gives some insight into the way other people think about what's important in life.

Have two, one in Religion aND one in Library Scirnece. Starting a 3rd, MSN in Education, in the fall. Glutton for punishment or just like school, take your pick.

Back in the dark ages when I was a new RN a very wise supervisor told me that the CNAs knew more about taking care of patients than I would ever know and that I would be well served to listen to them. I took her words to heart and in the process thos...

Also, a great chance to go back to school. But parking is really a nightmare at UCLA and expensive. I think it's a bit lower than at Cedars-Sinai, but that's not saying much. Have fun.

Heavenly blue, if perfect eyesight was required we'd never get any new nurses. As long as you can see well enough, somehow, to be safe and are careful, come on down. And welcome aborad, it's a great ride.

Hard to tell. Within both corporations I work for the individual hospitals specify the length of new grad orientation. One has a standardized framework for the didactic, but total length is up to the facility and always negotiable depending on the in...

This week about 4.5. But I'm tired and feel I am not contributing much to anything. I do computer based education and coordinate our new grad program.

If you find yourself not studying effectively in a group, bow out. You may do better on your own. Only you can decide that. I know I found study groups just raised my anxiety level without adding to my information stores. Good Luck.

One place I worked gave different trinkets to the licensed and unlicensed nursing employees. I thought that was nasty. The worst I've seen in recent memory was a "gift" of a small box of candy that was 3 pieces of hard candy. Didn't bother to even pi...

While I am not sure if the loan payback programs increase loyalty but we have noted in my facility if a new nurse can tolerate the old nurses for 2 years, they stay forever, or until they get married and move far, far away. We have also noticed that ...

Like my Mom before me I have chronically cold hands. I think that helps distract people from what I'm doing. But really it's a matter of practice, practice and more practice. And some people are just born with a good touch.

I suspect you ANM wants you to come to her unit as a new grad and is afraid she'll lose you to Ortho. Stick to your plan. Not only will you be a better nurse for the extra experience you get, you'll be practicing standing up for what you want and kno...

Sometime in the late 80s thought was that if we taught patients to give themselves their own insulin and not double check that there was no reason for nurses to double check. Well, times change, things happen (sentinel incidents) and what looked like...

I've taken yoga in the past and wish I could work it into my schedule. I highly recommend it--great for flexibility, stress reduction, and it helped firm up some of the losse jiggly parts. I also felt stronger and more energetic. I use a pad designe...

You might want to volunteer on a peds unit. Sick kids are a world of different from well ones. And sick kids come with parents that frequently are there 24/7 (as well they should be.) There were some suggestions about other paths in teaching. A lot o...

The other things that help in my facility (in no order of importance): being eager, interested, willing to learn and be taught, being a self-starter, jump in and help when you can, don't try to tell people how to do the job they've been doing for man...

You know, Mario, what you interpreted as not wanting to work with a male nurse might well have been not wanting to work with a student. Students have no idea how much work they create for the nurse they're working with. Some days you're just not up t...

Probably the most important piece of information is the one that is missing, what is the ethnicity of the patient and family. We are obliged to provide culturally competent and sensitive care. There might well be times when to provide such care, som...

We do special training and require the nurse to have ACLS. It rather scares me that your hospital thinks so little of you and the patients to not require in depth understanding of the drugs, their actions, side effects, emergency procedures, and the...